SERMON NOTES:

LIVE BIG 4 | MAKE BOLD MOVES

Live Big 4 | Make Bold Moves

Acts 4:29–31

“And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” — Acts 4:29–30

When the early church faced threats and pressure, they didn’t pray for safety. They prayed for boldness. And when they prayed, the place shook, they were filled with the Spirit, and they spoke God’s word with courage (Acts 4:31).

What Does It Mean to Be Bold?

Boldness is refusing to let fear dictate your actions. It’s stepping beyond the limits of what feels normal or safe. Bold people take risks. Bold people make big moves. And big moves make a big difference.

The first followers of Jesus knew this well. The church exploded from a handful of eyewitnesses to thousands within weeks of the resurrection. They faced resistance, ridicule, and threats — yet they prayed for boldness, not protection.

Biblical boldness is behavior born from belief. We speak boldly about what we believe deeply.

Three Bold Moves from Acts 3–4

1. Meet the Moment with Faith

Peter and John encountered a lame man begging at the temple gate. Instead of offering silver and gold, Peter said:

“In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” — Acts 3:6

Then he reached out, lifted the man up, and watched as his feet and ankles were instantly healed.

Peter didn’t hesitate. He didn’t delay with a promise of future prayer. He believed God could do something right there, right then.

Faith doesn’t wait for perfect conditions — it meets the moment with action.

2. Believe Outside the Box

The miracle happened outside the temple gates. A man excluded by law from worship was included by grace through Jesus.

God isn’t confined to church buildings. He moves in coffee shops, hospitals, schools, and streets. Jesus Himself was crucified “outside the gates” (Hebrews 13:12).

Bold faith steps beyond our boxes and boundaries. It believes that God can work anywhere, through anyone, in ways we never expected.

3. Break the Chains of Approval

Peter and John were arrested, questioned, and commanded to stop speaking the name of Jesus. Their response?

“Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than him? We cannot stop telling about everything we have seen and heard.” — Acts 4:19–20

Once, Peter had caved to fear and denied Jesus by a fire (John 18). But filled with the Spirit, he now stood with unshakable courage.

We face the same tension today: seek the approval of people or obey God. Boldness chooses obedience over acceptance.

What Happens When You Make Bold Moves?

• Broken people are healed.
• Crowds hear the message of Jesus.
• Opposition rises, but so does the church.
• Faith is multiplied, and lives are transformed.

History proves it. William Borden, heir to a massive fortune, gave his wealth away to fund global missions and chose a short, bold life over a safe, wealthy one. His motto: “No reserves, no retreats, no regrets.” His life sparked a generation of missionaries.

Live Big, Live Bold

You will never fulfill your calling inside your comfort zone. The early church turned the world upside down because they refused to live small, safe, or silent.

Bold people make big moves. And bold moves invite God’s big power.

Maybe the reason we don’t see miracles today is because we never step out boldly enough to need them.

It’s time to live big. It’s time to make bold moves.